ANAHEIM – Its 17s squad – the runner-up for the Nike-sponsored Peach Jam title last July – didn’t come to Orange County for the fourth Southern California Spring Tip-Off this past Saturday and Sunday at the American Sports Center.
But, just beginning Year II of its existence, the Russell Westbrook-fronted “Why Not?” Elite Youth Basketball League program continues to look to be on a firm foundation.
That was apparent, based upon the performances of the program’s 16s and 15s squads at the American Sports Center.
Each squad swept its competition behind some of the better freshmen and sophomores in the region.
The 15s (with Culver City High Coach Roy Walker at the helm) won its four games by an average of 43.5 points, as 6-foot-2 D.J. Dudley (San Diego San Ysidro/PICTURED) – one of the top 9th graders in California and beyond – averaged 25 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
The 16s, coached by Harvard-Westlake High assistant Steve Moore, had tougher sledding against some quality opposition (Cali Stars Elite; West Coast Elite UAA-Prince; WCE Elite UAA-Hunter; and Prodigy Elite) but still went 4-zip with an average winning margin of 11 points.
Six-five sophomore forward Tyler Powell (who helped lead Ribet Academy to Southern Section and State championships) averaged 14 points and 9 rebounds while 6-2 sophomore K.J. Simpson of Chaminade checked in with averages of 17 points and 6.5 assists.
EYBL action begins in Georgia (April 26-28).
Among the 17s squads going 4-0 in the Anaheim event (co-run by Hoops Review and West Coast Elite) was Prodigy Elite, coached by Cameron Murray.
That squad has a foundation that includes four underclassmen who started this past season for Etiwanda (juniors in guards Camren Pierce and Brantly Stevenson, and forward Tyree Campbell, as well as one of the region’s best sophomores in Jahmai Mashack).
The toughest of its four weekend wins came against a BTI Select squad that included juniors Austin Cook (Damien) and Caden Starr (Santa Clarita Christian), as well as 6-3 Keith Higgins, a sophomore and the other half of the Chaminade backcourt the past two seasons with Simpson.
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